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Calendar, Contacts, Notes and Tasks... the four cornerstones of Personal Information Management that go all the way back to my first Palm OS-powered PDA. For me, PIM sync was one of the hallmarks of early smartphones—freeing me from having to manually input my contacts' names and phone numbers every time I upgraded to a new device.

Cut to 2015 and one aspect of PIM is failing me, and failing hard. So today I'd like to task you with providing your solution for managing to dos.
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What we're looking at here is a Nexus 6P, wirelessly charging on a TYLT charging stand. If you weren't aware, Google has dropped Qi charging as a spec from 2015 Nexus phones, much to the dismay of Nexus fans like myself. So one redditor (imgurian?) took matters into their own hands with a clever hardware hack.

There's not much in the way of a description accompanying the photo gallery posted to r/Android, but I think I've more or less figured out how it was done.
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When we talk about Android flagships, each year HTC is usually one of the first names to pop up. However, 2015’s flagship, the One M9, has been maligned a bit in the media because it’s not that much better than it’s predecessor, the M8. While it ships with a more powerful SoC, due to heat issues, it rarely gets a chance to stretch its legs; the camera, while higher resolution doesn’t take very good pictures. That sort of thing.

Fortunately, HTC usually releases something interesting in Q3/Q4. Previous Q3/Q4 releases include the HTC Butterfly (one of the first 1080P phones), HTC One Max (their first phablet) and the Nexus 9 (their first tablet in a while).

Since the M9 is the most maligned HTC flagship in a while, they’ve decided to market their Q3 curiosity as their new flagship.

Indeed, the A9’s slick metal body is certainly a good start. What about the rest of it?
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Okay, "best" is entirely subjective, but I've been using Nova Launcher for years and think it's pretty great. I even wrote about it here once. Today I'm pleased to tell you that Nova Prime, a separate download that unlocks all features of the free launcher, is on sale in the Play Store until December 15th.

I paid for it just to support those who made the free app. But there are plenty of other good reasons to buy it as well.
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This right here? This is the face of an industry that deserves to die. More on him in a bit.

Yesterday large swaths of Toronto were brought to a standstill by taxi drivers protesting Uber. More specifically, uberX—everyone seems to forget that you can still use Uber with a licensed cabbie, at least in this city.

In Toronto uberX is currently operating outside of local bylaws, but it's also hugely popular, and with good reason: through the app's rating system drivers are, for the first time ever, held accountable for their vehicles and service. There are some lingering questions about insurance and liability but honestly, I've had fantastic experiences with uberX, uberXL and even UberBlack every time I've used them.

And after yesterday's protest I'm going to be using them a lot more.
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To continue our celebration of the holiday season here on HowardForums we're giving away a Nexus 5X! Before entering, please check out our review.

To enter you can leave a comment on this post, like us on Facebookand like the link to this post that appears on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter @howardforumsand tweet a link to this post with #HoFoNexus5XGiveaway. Any one will give you an entry, two or all three will give you that many chances to win. Bonus: if you are a HowardForums Premium Member you will automatically get an extra entry (for it to count you must enter in at least one of the aforementioned ways)! If you are not currently a Premium Member you can sign up or renew here.

Contest ends on Monday December 14th at 9:00 PM Pacific and the winner will be chosen randomly afterward. If the winner does not respond to us within 24 hours of being contacted, a new winner will be chosen.

Good luck!

***Contest Rules and Terms: Contest is open to U.S. and Canada users who do not reside in Quebec. If a Canadian wins they must answer the skill testing question: "What company manufactures the Nexus 5X?" U.S. winner will be responsible for all taxes and customs. Carrier compatibility not guaranteed. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Only one entry per method described above allowed. Contest not open to HowardForums staff and their families. Rules and Terms and contest details can be modified at our discretion at any time and without notification.

Yesterday Apple quietly released this $99 USD Smart Battery Case for the iPhone 6 and 6s. Or so they thought.

In short order the Internet was all over this, and with good reason: the thing is hideous. Honestly, would anyone buy this over a Mophie juice pack just because of the Apple logo on the back?

It's a rare misstep for a company that prides itself on design, devoting entire videos to components used in their products and how they fit together. Sure, it's only an accessory, but by Apple's own high standards I'd have expected them to come up with a more elegant solution than this.

For those not 100% clear on the importance of Band 12 support (like the Canadian writing this), AP does a pretty good job breaking it down. Basically, T-Mobile uses Band 12 for voice over LTE calling (VoLTE). Since there are areas in the United States where TMO's only coverage is on Band 12, devices have to be certified to support that band.

The HTC HD2 "Leo" was released in November of 2009 running Windows Mobile. It was quickly embraced by the XDA community, where somebody got it to run Android. The rest, as they say, is history. Late last week the legendary device got its first Lollipop ROM.

Over the course of its storied history the HD2 has been able to run all versions of Android dating back to Gingerbread, along with Windows Mobile, Windows Phone, Tablet Windows, Ubuntu, Meego, even Firefox OS. It's been called the final boss of smartphones, and at the very least is the poster child for XDA.

I've twice had the pleasure of using Roam Mobility in the United States. This MVNO uses the T-Mobile network to provide Canadians visiting the USA with unlimited LTE data for $4 USD per day. At current exchange rates that's not as cheap as Rogers' Roam Like Home, but if you have an unlocked phone and are not a Rogers customer I think it's your best bet.

Now Roam Mobility is available for Americans visiting Canada. You can tell that they've partnered with a Big Three Carrier because (1) they're offering LTE data, and (2) the plans are absolute s**t.

If you're having trouble reading the screen grab here, I'll spell it out for you:

With 500 MB of data you can perform up to 5 speed tests (if you turn the graphics off) and then regale friends back home with stories about how our LTE networks are slightly faster than yours. Seriously, as someone on vacation I'd be okay with 500 MB per day, but per week? This is madness.

But this is also Canada, where carriers regularly advertise monthly plans with 500 MB of data per month, as if everything's fine and we're all still in 2006 using BlackBerries on BIS.
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A breaking scoop from the Wall Street Journal last night: Apparently YouTube is in talks with Hollywood to bring streaming movies and TV shows to its paid subscription service, YouTube Red.

I wasn't aware of this, but Google—sorry, Alphabet, Inc.—has been quietly poaching executives from MTV and Netflix. Now, according to the WSJ, they're meeting with studios and production companies to consider pitches and license existing content.

It makes perfect sense if you think about it. As the most popular video streaming service in the world, YouTube already features clips from popular TV shows; why not the full shows as well? It would be one more compelling reason for me to consider YouTube Red if it ever came to Canada.

This got me thinking about the other ongoing services that I'm willing to pay for.
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I was talking to my coworker who had the same issue I got an T-Mobile series 3 off some one off letgo it was paid for but vz would not actvaite it so he sold it and just got one full price from Best...

While right now it is the only way to get WiFi Calling, this will not apply to iPhones once a Carrier Update that contains the settings for VoWiFi is rolled out. They have to work regardless, whether...